Process and apparatus for forming bushings



C. H. LElS March 22, 1932.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BUSHINGS 6 Shevets-Sheet l Filed Feb.26, 1929 i M I INVENTOR March 22, 1932. c L s 1,850,679

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BUSHINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 2 C. H. LEIS March 22, 1932.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BUSHINGS Fled Feb. 26, 1929 eSheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /mwm C. H. LES

March 22, 1932.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BUSHINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO R C. H. LEIS March 22, 1932.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ORMING BUSHINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 5 T i l l INVENTOR -March 22, 1932. c. H. LElS 3 5 PROCESSAND APPAHATUS FOR FORMING BUSHINGS Filed Feb. 26, 1929 e Sheets-Sheet eww .o.

Pitented Mar. 22, 1932" Unirea: STATESS PATENT* OFFICE) CARL H.,LEIS, OFNEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO JOHNSON BRONZE COM- PANY, OF NCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA I PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS FOR FORMING IBUSHINGS,

Application filed February 26, 1929; Serial No.-'342688.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for forming bushings,and more particularly to such a process n 'which the bushv ings areformed from a fiat strip of material .3 which is formed' into aU.-shape, and thereafter formed directly from a U-shape into acylindrical bushing.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to form bushings from a flat strip ofmaterial by first forming the blank which has been cut ont from thestrip material into a U-shape, then crimping in the upper ends of the U-shaped blank in a die separate from the die in which the Uwas formed,and thereafter in another die changing the U-shaped blank having itsupper ends crimpedin, into a finished cylindrical bushing., In; this oldmethod the blank had a U-shape in two successive dies. Because of thefact that, the blank was in the form of a U in two snccessive dies, it'was impractical to feed the U-shaped blank havingits upper ends crimpedin, from the crimping die to thefinal forming die to' produce acylindrical bushing, exceptby feeding one bushingby the next' succeedingbushing.,

It was not possible to feed a bushing` by means of feed fingers from thedie in which the crimping operation was performed, into the finalforming die.

Since the fe'eding of 'the crimped-in U'- shaped bushing from thecrimping in die to the 'final' forming die was accomplished by contactwith the nextsucceeding bushing, only bushings of the same length as thecrimping-in die could be employed. This meant that for each change inthe length of a bushing-,' a new die had tobe substituted for the'crimping-in die.

My inventi'on provides a means whereby the blank, after it has beenformed in the shape of a U,.is transferred directly to a final formingdie in which both the crimping-in of the upper ends of'the U-shapedblank and the completion of the cylindrical bushing are accomplished.Bythis means I use only one die which contains a U-shaped blank, and forthis reason I am able to move a blank from the U-forming die. into thefinal forming die by feed fingers, no matter What the length of thebushing may be, provided of course that it does not exceed the length ofthe U- forming die.. I am' therefore able to make bush ings of the samediameter; but of greater or lesser length without the necessity ofchangingthe U-forming die for each change in length of the bushing. e

In the accompanying drawings which il-- lustrate the present preferredembodiment of my invention,

Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, illustrate in a somewhat diagrammatic mannerthe various stepsemployed to transform a flat blank of material into afinished cylindrical bushing;

Figure 6 is a plan View of one form of device embodying my invention;

Figure 7 is' a front elevation; e

r Figure 8 isi a partial rear elevationshowing the means for feeding thestrip material to the forming dies;

Figure 9 isa longitudinal section taken on the line I'Xe-IX' of Figure6, parts being shown in elevation';

Figure 10 shows in a somewhat diagrammatic manner the: mechanism`employed for feeding the, strip of material, blanks and bushing throughthe machine; and

Figure 11 isa detail View of the feed finger' which feeds the blank tothe U-forning die.

Referring to Figures 1 to of the drawings, after a blank 2has beenstamped out of the strip materifahit is guided between guides 3 to a Uforming die 4. In this die 'it is formed to a U-:shape by the plunger 5.e From the U-forming die the U-shaped blank passes to the final formingdie 6. As shown in Figs.` 3, 4 and 5, the finalforming die 6 is monntedon a base '7 on which are supported the side frames 8. Two cams 9 arepivotally mounted onshafts 10 supported by the side' frames, the innerends 11 of the cams projectinginwardly so that they eXtend over thefinal forming u die. An upper plunger 12 co operates with the cams 9 andfinal forma ing die 6 to change the U-shaped blanki v into a finishedcylindrical bushing. a As the upper plunger 12 descends, it Contactswith the inner endsl'l of the cams, rotating the cams about'ther pivotpoints 10, and causing the inner ends. of the cams to contact with, andcrimp in, the upperends of' the .i

U. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. After the upper ends have beencrimped in and while the U-shaped blank is in the same final forming die6, the upper plunger 12, as it continues its descent, forces the cams 9away from contact with the blank, and as the upper plunger 12 contactswith the lower die 6, it forms a finished cylindrical bushing, as shownin Figure 5. Adjusting bolts 13 which contact with ribs 14 of the upperside of the cams, are provided in order to adjust the cams for differentsized bushings.

As above stated, the blank 2 shown in Fig. 1 is stamped out from a stripof material. The waste strip material 15 left on each side of the blankis led through guides 16 shown in Figs 3, 4 and 5. This strip materialis sheared off as it is delivered from the final forming die, ashereinafter more fully described.

A spring 10' has one of its ends secured in the cam 9 and its oppositeend Secured to'the pin 10. By this means the cams are returned to theposition shown in Fig. 3 when the plunger 12 is out of contact with thecans.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, which illustrate the presentpreferred embodiment of the invention, the device includes a base 18 onwhich an oil grooving die 19, a blanking die 20, a U-forming die 21, anda final forming die 22, are mounted. The strip material which is to beforrned into a cylindrical bushing enters the forming machine from theleft, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9.

;,.-, At the left-hand or forward end of the machine there are arrangedstraightening rollers 23 which straighten out the strip material passingtherebetween. Arranged above the lower dies 19, 20, 21 and 22 is a press24 having a main plunger 25 which is reciprocated up and down betweenguides 26 by means not shown. A connecting rod 27 is arranged adjacentthe forward end of the forming machine and is connected by means (notshown) to a device for reciprocating it up and down. The lower end ofthe con necting rod 27 has an arin 28 connected thereto, the oppositeend of the arm being secured to a shaft 29 mounted-at the forward end ofthe press 24. A link 30 is connected to the opposite end of the shaft 29and at its lower end 31 is connected to a link 32.

The opposite end of the link 32 is pivotally connected to a bracket 33which extends for wardly of the machine. The forwardly projecting arm 34of the bracket 33 provides bearings 35 and 36 for feed finger rods 37.To the right-hand ends of the rods 37 feed fingers`38 and 39 areSecured. The feed fingers 38 move the flat blank which has been stampedout of the strip material from the blanking die to the U-forming die.The feed finger 39 moves the U-shaped blank from the U-forming die tothe final forming die. A Stop member 40 is Secured to the rods 37intermediate their ends, and a spring 41 is arranged around theleft-hand end of one of the rods 37.

A main feed shaft 42 is connected at its left-hand end to the bracket33, and at its opposite end is provided with a bracket 43 in which ismounted a core 44. The core is arranged so as to cooperate with thefinal forming die 22 during the formation of the cylindrical bushingfrom the U-shaped blank.

As shown in Fig. 9, springs 45 and 46 are arranged within housings 47and 48 underneath the bearings 49 and 50 in order to exert an upwardpressure on the bearings which act as guides for the core 44.

When the machine is in operation, power is transmitted through the link32, bracket 33, main shaft 42, and bracket 43, to the core 44, therebyalternately inserting and withdrawing the core from the final formingdie. At the same time, through the arm 34 the feed finger rods 37 arecaused to move forward and backward, as are the feed fin ers 38 and 39attached thereto, in order to eed the material through the machine. Thespring 41 on one of the shafts 37 eliminates j ari-ing and also providesfor some lost motion as the bracket 33 is moved from right to left, asshown in Fig. 10.

The straightening rolls 23 and the feed rolls 52 are actuated from theconnecting rod 27 through arm 28, link 30, and link 53. The link 53 ispivotally connected at 54 to the link 30, and at its opposite end to apin 55 arranged in a collar 56. The collar 56 may be adjusted up anddown within the housing 57 by means of a screw 58 extendingtherethrough. A pawl 60 is nounted on a pin 61 secured to the housing57. The pawl engages a ratchet wheel 62 mounted on a shaft 63 to whichone of the feed rolls 52 is Secured. The pawl 60 is maintained incontact with the ratchet 62 by a spring 64 connected at 65 to the frameof the machine, and at 66 to an arm 67 Secured to the pin 61.

As shown in Fig. 6, power is transmitted from the shaft 63 to thestraightening rolls 23, through a chain 68 and clutch 69.

Through the mechanism above described, reciprocation of the connectingrod 27 causes the intermittent rotation of the straightening rolls 23and the feed rolls 52. It also causes movement of the main shaft 42,thereby causing movement of the core 44 and the feed fingers 38 and 39.

The main plunger 25 has three plungers Secured to its lower surface. Thethree plungers are a blanking plunger 70, a U-forming plunger 71, and afinal forming plunger 72. Arranged forwardly of the blankng plunger 70and connected thereto is an oil grooving plunger 73. These plungerscooperate with the lower dies in the successive steps forming thebushing. The lower dies include an oil grooving die 19, a blanking die20, a U forming die 21,; and a final forming die 22.

In the operation-of the device, a flat strip of material is fed betweenthe straightening rollers 23 and the feed `rollers 52,.which feed thestrip intermittently to the lower dies 19, 20, 21 and ,22. The strip isguided in its movement between the feed rolls 52 and the dies by a guide75. During the feeding of the strip material to the dies the connectingrod 27 and the main plunger 25 are reciprocating up and down.- As thestrip material enters the die 19, oil grooves are made therein by' theoil grooving punch 7.3. The strip thencontinues to the die 20 where ablank is punohed out bythe plunger 7 O. The blank so punched out fromthe strip material falls downwardly until it rests on guides 76, but thestrips 15 of waste material are guided through the guides` 16, shown inF ig. 6, and asthey are delivered' from the guides, are sheared oif by ashear 77 connected to the upper plunger 25, as shown in Fig. 7.

The blank which has dropped down in the blanking die 20 is fed into theU-forming die 21 by means of the hook shaped fingers 38 connected to theforward end of the feed finger rods 37. After the U-shaped blank hasbeen formed in the die 21 by the plunger 71 it' is' moved to the finalforming die 22 by means of the finger 89 shown in F igs; 9 and 10.W'hile the U-shaped blank is in the'final forming die, the core 44 isinserted in: the blank so that when the upper final forming plunger 72is' next lowered, it firstcontacts with the cams 9 in order to crimp inthe upper ends of the U blank, and thereafter forms a cylindricalbushing having the core 44 therein.

During the downward movement of the plunger 25, an upper bumper pin 7 8secured to the plunger 25, Contacts with a lower bumper pin 79 securedto the core hearing 49 in order to depress the Core within the finalforming die, to form a perfect cylindrical bushing.

As the upper die 25 rses, the springs 45 and 46 within the core housingcause the core 44 to move upwardly, thereby freeing the core and'bushingfrom the final forming die, after which the core 44 with a bushing`surrounding it, is withdrawn from the final forming die and the bushingis stripped from the core by contact with a bumper plate 80.

The bumper plate is secured to the housing 47 and is provided withanopening slightly larger than the diameter of the core The opening issmaller than the outside diameter of the 'bushing which has been formed.Aecordingly, when the core having a cylindrical bushin; thereon is movedto the right, as viewed in Figure 9, the bushing contects with thebumper plate 80, which prevents it from moving farther to the right,while the core 44 continues'to slide in the bearings 49 and 50, thusstripping the bushing from the core.

The bushing; drops downwardly' through an a opening in the formingmachine.. i My invention provides means whereby a finished cylndrcalbushing can be made in one step and in one die directly from a blank ihaving' a .U-shape. I therefore am able to make diiferent lengthbushings of the same diameter without the necessity of changing theU-formin die each time a diiferent size bushing is made.

By practicing my intention the strip material, left after the blankingoperation, is fed away from the dies so as not'to interfere therewith,and is cut into pieces of ,convenient size for handlng,` as it isdischarged from the machine. i

l have illustrated and described the pres ent preferred embodiment of myinvention. It is to he understood, however, that the invention may beotherwise embodied without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, orthe scope of the following claims.

l claim:

1. In the method of forming cylindrical bushings,the steps comprisingforming a U having substantially straight' legs extending upwardly,feeding the L into an inmovable final forming die, and crimping in theends of 'the U and forming a cylindrical bushing in said die.

2. In the method of forming cylindrical. bushings wherein strip materialis fed inter mittently to immovable dies, the steps comprising forming'a U from a blank in a die,

`said U having its legs extendingupwardly,

feeding the U into a die, and crimping in the ends of the U and forminga cylindrical bushing in said last mentioned die.

3. In the method of forming bushings .from strip material which is fedintermittently to dies arranged ,in a forming machine, thestepscomprising stamping out a blank, forming a bushing therefrom` feedingthe waste strip 'portions resulting' from the stamping` operationthrough the machine, and cutting the strips into smaller lengths as theyleave the machine.

4. In the method of forming bushings from strip` material which is fedintermittently to dies arranged in a forming machine, i the stepscomprisin stamping out a blank, forming a bushing therefroni, feedinrthe waste strip portions resulting from the stamping operation throughguides spaced laterally of the dies, and cuttingthe strips into smallerlene'ths.

5. In the method of forming bushings from strip ;material which is fedintermittently to cooperating dies and plungers of a forming machine,the steps comprising stamping out a blank, forming a bushing therefrom,feeding the waste strip portions resulting from the stamping operationthrough guides spaced laterally of the dies, and cutting into r ers thestrps leaving the machine.

6. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip material fedintermit- 5 tently to cooperating dies and plungers, means for stampingout a blank, means for bending the blank into a U, a final forming dieadapted to receive the U, a final forming die plunger, and cams arrangedin cooperative relation with said plunger and die Whereby When theplunger is actuated the cams first crimp in the ends of the U and theplunger thereafter completes the cylindrical bushing.

7. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip material fedintermittently to cooperating dies and plungers, means for stamping outa blank, means for forming a U from the blank, a final forning lower diehaving a semi-cylindrical recess therein adapted to receive the U, afinal forming die plunger having a semi-cylindrical recess therein ofthe same diameter as the lower die recess, pivotally nounted camsarranged so as to have portions extending between said plunger and lowerdie, and means for normally holding said cams from contact with the U,said cams being so arranged that when the plunger is actuated the camsfirst crimp in the ends of the U and the plunger thereafter completesthe cylindrical bush- In a nachine for forming cylindrical bushings fromstrip material fed intermittently to cooperating dies and plungers,ncans for stamping out a blank, a U forming die, feed fingers forfeeding the blank to the U forming die, a final forming die, a secondfeed finger for forming die to the final forming die, and means forformin a cylindrical bushng from the U in the final orming die.

9. In a machine for forming cylindrcal bushings from strip material 'edintermittently to cooperating dies and plungers, means for stamping outa blank, means for bending the blank into a U, means for feeding theWaste strip portions resulting from the stamping operation through themachine, and means for cutti ng the strips into smaller lengths as theyleave the machine.

10. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip naterialfed intermittently to cooperating dies and plungers, means for stampingout a blank, means for bending the blank into a U, guides spacecllaterally of the dies for guiding the waste strips through the machine,and meansfor cutting the strps into smaller lengths.

11. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip materialfed intermittently to cooperatng dies and plungers, means for stampingout a blank, means for bending the blank into a U, guides spacedlaterally of the dies for guiding the waste strips through the machine,a final forming die, and

feeding the U from the U shearing elements associated With the finalforming die and the plunger for cutting the strips into smaller lengths.

12. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip material,means for stamping out a blank, means for bending the blank into a UWith the legs of the U substantially parallel and the closed endextending downwardly, a final forming die, means for feeding the U tosaid die, and means including a final forming die plunger for crimpingin the ends of the U and forming a cylindrical bushing therefrom.

13. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip material,means for stamping out a blank, means for bending the blank into a UWith the legs of the U substantially parallel and the closed endextending downwardly, an immovable final forming die, means for feedingthe U to said die, and means including a final forming die plunger forcrimping in the ends of the U and forming a cylindrical bushingtherefrom.

14. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip material,means for stamping out a blank, means for bending the blank into a UWith the legs of the U substantially parallel and the closed endextending downwardly, an immovable final forming die, means for feedingthe U to said die, and means including a final forming die plunger forcrimping in the ends of the U and forming a cylindrical bushingtherefrom, said final forming die plunger having contact With the formedcylindrical bushing throughont substantially the entire length thereof.

15. In the method of forming cylindrical bushings, the steps comprisingintermittently feeding strip material to immovable dies, forming a blankfrom the strip material, bending the blank into a U With the legs of theU extending upwardly, feeding the U into an immovable die, and formingin said die a cylindrical bushing from the U.

16. In a machine for forming cylindrical bushings from strip materialfed intermittently to cooperating dies and plungers, means for stampngout a blank, a U-forming die, means for feeding the blank to the U-forming die, a final forming die having a semi-cylindrical rccess openat its top, means other than the material being shaped for feeding the Uinto the final forming die, and means for forming a cylindrcal bushingfrom the U in the final forming die.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL H. LEIS.

